Bond for electric railways



` (No Model.) i

E. S. WHEELER. BOND FOR ELEGTRIG RAILWAYS.

Noi 545,833. 'i Patented Sept.,3,`1`895.

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PATENT @EEIOE.

ELONZO STERNE WHEELER, OE sAUeATIICK, CONNECTICUT, AssIGNoR OE ONE-HALETo CLARENCE L. WHEELER, OE MARION, INDIANA.

BOND FOR ELECTRIC RAILWAYS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 545,833, datedSeptember 3, 1895. Application led January I4, 1895. Serial No. 534.853.(No model.)

To all whom t may concern;

Be it knownY that 1, ELONZO STERNE WHEELER, of Saugatuck, in the countyofV Fairiield'and State of Connecticut, have `in vented a newImprovement in Bonds for Electric Railways; and I do hereby declare thefollowing, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings andthe letters of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and

Io exact description of the same, and which said drawings constitutepart of this specification, and represent, in-

Figure 1, a view in side elevation of a bond constructed in accordancewith my invention Al5 and applied to two rail ends, which are shown tobe united by a chair-joint, which is shown.

in vertical longitudinal section; Fig. 2, a View in horizontal sectionon the line a b of FigB; Fig. 3, a View in transverse section on theline 2o c d of Fig. 1; Fig. 4, a detached plan View of the bond.

My invention relates to an improvement in bonds for electric railways,or, in other words, for those connecting pieces of metal which 2; areemployed to establish an electric circuit throughout the rails of arailway system in which the cars are electrically propelled.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple and compact bondconstructed with particular reference to forming a large area of contactbetween the rails which it connects, to being protected against injuryfrom whatever cause, and to being produced and applied with the minimumof expense.

3 5 Vith these ends in view my invention consists in a bond for electricrailways provided with inwardly-extending projection taking intoholesformed in the rail ends, which are thus made electrically continuous, incombination with a chair-joint consisting of a chair provided with aflange, between which and the rail ends the bond is located, and alsoconsisting of a draw-bar adapted to be inserted into the chair andengaging with the opposite faces of the webs of the rail ends.

My invention further consists in certain details of construction andcombinations of parts, as will be hereinafter described, and pointed outin the claims.

5o As shown in the drawings, my improved bond consists of a long narrowplate A, bowed midway of its length, as at a, for the purpose ofadapting it to compensate for variations in the length of the rails,owing to their contraction and expansion, and provided at each end withan inward projection in the. form of a contact-bushing A. This bond maybe made of sheet or cast metal, as desired. 1f made of sheet metal,which is the preferred construction, the bushings will be drawn upthere- 6o from. As shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, the bond is used inconnection with a chair-joint of the same general construction as thatshown in United States Patent No. 512,851, granted January 16, 1891, tome, the bond being placed in a shallow recess B, formed in thelongitudinal flange B ofthe chair B2, and the bushings A and A of thebond fitting into the transverse openings C C, formed in the abuttingends of the rails C. C. The said rail ends are 7o firmly seated andheldin the chair by means of a flanged draw-clamp B3, which does notneed special description. The exterior faces of the bushings A A of thebond are designed to make continuous contact with the wallsof the saidholes C C in the rail ends C C', whereby a large contact-surface betweenthe bond and the rail ends is'secured. It will be understood that whenthe bond is used in such a chair it is held in place between the said 8oflange and the rail ends and is very easily applied. Furthermore, theholesOUwhich receive the bushings of the bond are the holes which areformed in all rails to receive the bolts used in connection with thesplice-bars 8 5 or lish-plates ordinarily employed for coupling rails.It will also be understood that when the bond is in place it is entirelyprotected from injury. The rail ends are also provided with transverseholes O2 C2, receiv- 9o ing inwardly-projecting pins B4 B4, which areemployed to prevent the rails from creeping.

I would have it understood that I do not limit 'myself toV the exactconstruction set forth, but holdmyself at liberty to make such changesand alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of myinvention.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is roo 1. A bond for electric railways,provided with inwardly extending projections taking into holes formed inthe rail-ends which are thus made electrically continuous, incombination with a chair-joint consisting of a chair provided with aflange, between which and the rail-ends the bond is located, and alsoprovided With a draw-bar engaging with the 0pposite faces of the webs ofthe rail-ends, substantially as described.

2. A bond for electric railways, provided with inwardly extendingprojections taking into holes formed in the rail-ends which are thusmade electrically continuous, in combination with a chair-jointconsisting of a chair provided with a flange which is recessed toreceive the bond which is located between the flange and the rail-ends,and the Asaid chairjoint also consisting of a draw-bar adapted to beinserted into the chair and engaging with the opposite faces of the websofthe rail-ends, substantially as described.

3. A bond for electric railways, provided with inwardly extendingprojections taking into holes formed in the rail-ends which are thusmade electrically continuous, and bowed between its ends to adapt it toexpand and contract to compensate for the expansion and contraction ofthe rails, in combination with a chair-joint consisting of a chairprovided with a flange, and of a draw-bar adapted to be inserted intothe chair the ange of which is recessed to receive the bond and thebowed portion thereof, while the flange and drawbar combine to cover andprotect the bond, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed this Specification in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

ELONZO STERNE WHEELER.

'Vitnesses:

F. B. MATHnws, R. H. WHEELER.

